JP2015009952A - Automatic warehouse and operational method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic warehouse which can continue to carry a cargo when a stacker crane breaks down.SOLUTION: A stocker 1A of an automatic warehouse 100 comprises: a stocker main body 2 including an aperture and an aperture; a plurality of shelves 31; an inlet-outlet port; a guideway 5 which is disposed between the aperture and the aperture; a stacker crane 7A which travels on the guideway 5; a stacker crane 7B which travels on the guideway 5; an evacuation area E which is connected through the aperture with the guideway 5 outside of the stocker main body 2; and a standby area W which is connected through the aperture with the guideway 5 outside of the stocker main body 2 and in which the stacker crane 7B stands by during operation of the stacker crane 7A. When the stacker crane 7A is pulled away through the aperture into the evacuation area E, the stacker crane 7B moves through the aperture from the standby area W into the stocker main body 2 to carry a cargo H.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse for storing loads and an operation method thereof.

  As an automatic warehouse as described above, one having a stacker crane for conveying a load is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such an automatic warehouse, the stacker crane moves along a plurality of shelves, and conveys the load between the loading / unloading port and the shelves.

JP 2010-143757 A

  In the automatic warehouse as described above, it is assumed that the stacker crane breaks down and it is not possible to continue the conveyance of the load. If this happens, it will not be possible to load or unload the load from the automatic warehouse until the stacker crane is restored, and the load transfer efficiency may be reduced. Therefore, in the automatic warehouse as described above, it is desired to develop a technique capable of continuing the conveyance of the load when the stacker crane breaks down.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic warehouse capable of continuing the conveyance of a load when a stacker crane breaks down.

  The automatic warehouse of the present invention includes a stocker for storing loads, the stocker having a first opening and a second opening, a plurality of shelves arranged in the stocker main body and storing loads, A stocker port that is provided in the stocker main body for loading and unloading cargo, a travel path that is provided between the first opening and the second opening in the stocker main body, and travels on the travel path. A first stacker crane that transports the load between the shelf and the loading / unloading port, a second stacker crane that travels on the traveling path and transports the load between the shelf and the loading / unloading port, and the first outside the stocker body. The first stacker crane is connected to the travel path through the first opening and connected to the travel path through the second opening outside the stocker body, and the retraction area where the first stacker crane can be retracted. In operation And a standby area where the second stacker crane waits, and when the first stacker crane is retracted to the retract area via the first opening, the standby area enters the stocker body via the second opening. The moved second stacker crane carries the load.

  In the automatic warehouse of the present invention, in the stocker, when the first stacker crane is retracted to the retreat area via the first opening, it moves from the standby area into the stocker body via the second opening. A spare second stacker crane carries the load. Therefore, when the first stacker crane breaks down, it is possible to continue the conveyance of the load by the spare second stacker crane. Further, since the second stacker crane moves into the stocker body through the second opening opposite to the first opening through which the first stacker crane retracts, the first stacker crane quickly retracts. And the second stacker crane can be quickly moved into the stocker body.

  The automatic warehouse includes a pair of stockers provided adjacent to each other, and in the pair of stockers, the second opening of one stocker and the second opening of the other stocker are opposed to each other, The standby area of one stocker may be shared as the standby area of the other stocker, and the second stacker crane of one stocker may be shared as the second stacker crane of the other stocker. According to this configuration, since the standby area and the spare second stacker crane are shared between a pair of stockers provided adjacent to each other, the installation area and installation cost of the automatic warehouse can be reduced.

  Each of the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane is disposed on one side in the traveling direction with respect to the traveling unit that travels along the traveling path, the mast erected on the traveling unit, and the mast. And a lifting platform that moves up and down. According to this configuration, since the lifting platform of the first stacker crane is disposed on one side in the traveling direction with respect to the mast, the load is transferred between the shelf on the other side in the traveling direction. In doing so, the mast of the first stacker crane protrudes from the shelf to the other side in the traveling direction. For this reason, it is necessary to provide an area for releasing the mast of the first stacker crane in the stocker body. According to the above configuration, since the lifting platform of the spare second stacker crane is also arranged on one side in the traveling direction with respect to the mast, an area for releasing the mast of the first stacker crane in the stocker body An area for releasing the mast of the second stacker crane can be shared. Therefore, the area for escaping the mast can be minimized.

  A door may be provided in each of the first opening and the second opening. According to this configuration, since the atmosphere in the stocker body can be isolated from the outside, the atmosphere in the stocker body can be efficiently maintained in a predetermined state.

  The operation method of the automatic warehouse according to the present invention is the above-described operation method of the automatic warehouse, wherein the first step of retracting the first stacker crane to the retreat area via the first opening and the second opening A second step of moving the second stacker crane from the standby region into the stocker body, and a third step of transporting the load to the second stacker crane in the stocker body.

  According to the operation method of the automatic warehouse of the present invention, when the first stacker crane breaks down, the transportation of the load can be continued by the spare second stacker crane. In addition, the first stacker crane can be quickly retracted, and the second stacker crane can be quickly moved into the stocker body.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when a stacker crane fails, it becomes possible to provide the automatic warehouse which can continue conveyance of a load.

It is a front view of the automatic warehouse of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the automatic warehouse of FIG. It is a top view which shows the operation method of the automatic warehouse of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the retracting method of the stacker crane of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same or an equivalent element, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic warehouse 100 is provided in a building 200. In the automatic warehouse 100, for example, the load H that has been transported by the transport device is stored.

  The automatic warehouse 100 includes a set of stockers 1A and 1B. Each of the stockers 1A and 1B stores the load H. The pair of stockers 1A and 1B are arranged in series in a straight line. Each of the stockers 1A and 1B includes a stocker body 2, racks 3A and 3B, loading / unloading ports 4 and 4, a traveling path 5, an auxiliary path 6, a stacker crane (first stacker crane) 7A, and a stacker crane (second stacker crane). 7B, a save area E, and a standby area W.

  The stocker body 2 has a casing shape (for example, a hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape) surrounding a predetermined space. The stocker body 2 has a first opening 21 and a second opening 22 through which the stacker crane 7A and the stacker crane 7B can be taken out of the stocker body 2.

  The first opening 21 and the second opening 22 are provided so as to face each other in the horizontal direction. The first opening 21 and the second opening 22 are provided on a pair of opposite side walls of the stocker body 2. In the pair of stockers 1A and 1B, the second opening 22 of the stocker 1A and the second opening 22 of the stocker 1B are opposed to each other. Each of the first opening 21 and the second opening 22 is provided with a door D. The stocker body 2 has a plurality of floors here, and a door D is provided on each floor (see FIG. 4). Here, the door D is manually opened and closed. The outer wall of the stocker body 2 is provided with a ladder L and a step S used when opening and closing the door D on each floor (see FIG. 4, not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3). The door D may be an automatic door.

  Each of the racks 3 </ b> A and 3 </ b> B is erected in the stocker body 2. The rack 3A and the rack 3B are provided so as to face each other. The racks 3 </ b> A and 3 </ b> B are provided along a pair of opposing side walls in which the first opening 21 and the second opening 22 are not provided, among the side walls of the stocker body 2. The rack 3A is provided on a side wall on one side (upper side in FIG. 2) except for both ends in the horizontal direction. The racks 3B and 3B are provided on the other side wall except for both end portions and the central portion in the horizontal direction. On the other side wall, loading / unloading ports 4, 4 are provided in the center in the horizontal direction, and racks 3 </ b> B are provided on both sides of the loading / unloading ports 4, 4. In the loading / unloading port 4, loading and unloading of the load H with respect to the automatic warehouse 1 is performed.

  Each of the racks 3A and 3B is provided with a plurality of shelves 31 in which the load H is stored. The shelves 31 are provided in a plurality of rows along the horizontal direction, and are provided in a plurality of stages along the vertical direction.

  Each of the traveling path 5 and the auxiliary path 6 is provided between the first opening 21 and the second opening 22 in the stocker body 2. The travel path 5 is provided on the floor along a plurality of rows of shelves 31. A travel rail 51 is laid on the travel path 5. The auxiliary path 6 is provided in the stocker body 2 substantially directly above the traveling path 5 along the plurality of rows of shelves 31 so as to face the traveling path 5. An auxiliary rail 61 is laid on the auxiliary path 6. Each of the traveling rail 51 and the auxiliary rail 61 extends outside the stocker body 2 and is provided in a straight line so as to pass through the stocker body 2 of the stocker 1A and the stocker body 2 of the stocker 1B.

  The retreat area E and the standby area W are provided outside the stocker body 2. The retreat area E is connected to the travel path 5 via the first opening 21. In other words, the retreat area E is set on the travel rail 51 extended from the first opening 21. The retreat area E is provided at a position facing the first opening 21 when viewed from the vertical direction.

  The standby area W is connected to the traveling path 5 through the second opening 22. In other words, the standby area W is set on the traveling rail 51 extended from the second opening 22. The standby area W is provided at a position facing the second opening 22 when viewed from the vertical direction. The standby area W of the stocker 1A is shared as the standby area W of the stocker 1B.

  Each of the stacker crane 7 </ b> A and the stacker crane 7 </ b> B travels on the traveling path 5 and transports the load H between the shelf 31 and the loading / unloading port 4, and transfers the load H to the shelf 31 (loading and loading). Down).

  The stacker crane 7A is disposed in the stocker body 2. The stacker crane 7 </ b> A can be retreated to the retreat area E through the first opening 21 in the event of a failure or the like. The stacker crane 7B is disposed in the standby area W when the stacker crane 7A is operating in the stocker body 2. When the stacker crane 7A is retreated to the retreat area E, the stacker crane 7B moved into the stocker body 2 through the second opening conveys the load H. The stacker crane 7B of the stocker 1A is shared as the stacker crane 7B of the stocker 1B.

  The stacker crane 7A includes a traveling unit 71a, a mast 72a, a lifting platform 73a, a transfer device 74a, and an auxiliary traveling unit 75a. The traveling unit 71 a travels along the traveling path 5. The mast 72a is erected on the upper part of the traveling part 71a. The lifting platform 73a is disposed so as to protrude in the traveling direction with respect to the mast 72a, and moves up and down along the mast 72a. The transfer device 74a is provided in the upper part of the lifting platform 73a. The transfer device 74 a transfers the load H to the shelf 31 and transfers the load H to the loading / unloading port 4. The auxiliary traveling unit 75 a travels along the auxiliary path 6.

  The stacker crane 7B has the same configuration as the stacker crane 7A, and includes a traveling unit 71b, a mast 72b, a lifting platform 73b, a transfer device 74b, and an auxiliary traveling unit 75b.

  The elevator 73a of the stacker crane 7A is arranged on one side (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) in the traveling direction with respect to the mast 72a. Similarly, the lifting platform 73b of the stacker crane 7B is also arranged on one side in the traveling direction with respect to the mast 72b. In this way, in the pair of stockers 1A and 1B, the elevators 73a and 73a of the stacker cranes 7A and 7A that are normally movable and the elevators 73b of the spare stacker crane 7B are arranged on the same side. .

  In the stocker body 2, there is provided an area A in which the stacker crane 7A is arranged when the stacker crane 7A transfers the load H to the shelf 31 at the other end in the traveling direction. . The area A includes an area for releasing the mast 72a of the stacker crane 7A. The area for releasing the mast 72a of the stacker crane 7A is also an area for releasing the mast 72b of the stacker crane 7B when the stacker crane 7B moves into the stocker body 2.

  In the automatic warehouse 1 as described above, in a normal state, the stacker crane 7A travels along the traveling path 5 in each of the stocker 1A and the stocker 1B and transports the load H between the shelf 31 and the loading / unloading port 4. Then, the load H is transferred to the shelf 31 and the loading / unloading port 4.

  Here, for example, when the stacker crane 7A of the stocker 1A fails, the stocker 1A retracts the stacker crane 7A and moves the stacker crane 7B into the stocker body 2. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the stocker 1A, first, all doors D of the first opening 21 are opened.

  At this time, for example, when the height of the floor surface in the stocker body 2 (the floor surface on which the traveling path 5 is provided) and the floor surface on which an operator walks outside the stocker body 2 is different, the stocker A floor panel FP may be provided on the floor surface adjacent to the first opening 21 outside the main body 2. In this case, the floor panel FP is also opened.

  Subsequently, in the stocker 1 </ b> A, the stacker crane 7 </ b> A is retreated to the retreat area E through the first opening 21. Retraction of the stacker crane 7A may be performed by a driving force from a driving source or by an operator's human power.

  Subsequently, in the stocker 1A, in the same manner as the door D of the first opening 21 described above, all the doors D of the second opening 22 are opened, and the stacker crane 7B is connected to the stocker main body 2 through the second opening 22. Move in. The movement of the stacker crane 7B may be performed by a driving force from a driving source or by an operator's human power.

  Subsequently, in the stocker 1A, the loader H is transported to the stacker crane 7B. The retreat of the stacker crane 7A to the retreat area E and the movement of the stacker crane 7B into the stocker body 2 may be performed in parallel or in the reverse order. Even when the stacker crane 7A of the stocker 1B breaks down, the transport of the load H can be continued by the stacker crane 7B in the same manner as described above.

  As described above, in the automatic warehouse 100 according to the present embodiment, when the stacker crane 7A is retreated to the retreat area E via the first opening 21 in the stocker 1A, the standby area is established via the second opening 22. A spare stacker crane 7B that has moved from W into the stocker body 2 carries the load H. Therefore, when the stacker crane 7A breaks down, the transport of the load H can be continued by the spare stacker crane 7B. Further, since the stacker crane 7B moves into the stocker body 2 through the second opening 22 opposite to the first opening 21 through which the stacker crane 7A retreats, the stacker crane 7A quickly retreats. In addition, the stacker crane 7B can quickly move into the stocker body. The same applies to the stocker 1B.

  The automatic warehouse 100 includes a pair of stockers 1A and 1B provided adjacent to each other. In the pair of stockers 1A and 1B, the second opening 22 of one stocker 1A and the second of the other stocker 1B. Opposite to the opening 22, the standby area W of one stocker 1A is shared as the standby area W of the other stocker 1B, and the stacker crane 7B of one stocker 1A is the stacker crane of the other stocker 1B. Shared as 7B. For this reason, since the standby area W and the spare stacker crane 7B are shared between the stocker 1A and the stocker 1B provided adjacent to each other, the installation area and the installation cost of the automatic warehouse 100 can be reduced.

  The stacker crane 7A is disposed on one side in the traveling direction with respect to the traveling portion 71a traveling along the traveling path 5, the mast 72a erected on the traveling portion 71a, and along the mast 72a. And a lifting platform 73a that moves up and down. Further, the stacker crane 7B is disposed on one side in the traveling direction with respect to the traveling part 71b traveling along the traveling path 5, the mast 72b erected on the traveling part 71b, and the mast 72b. And a lifting platform 73b that moves up and down. According to this configuration, since the lifting platform 73a of the stacker crane 7A is disposed on one side in the traveling direction with respect to the mast 72a, the load H between the shelf 31 on the other side in the traveling direction is reduced. , The mast 72a of the stacker crane 7A protrudes from the shelf 31 to the other side in the traveling direction. For this reason, an area for releasing the mast 72a of the stacker crane 7A is provided in the stocker body 2. According to the above configuration, the lifting platform 73b of the spare stacker crane 7B is also arranged on one side in the traveling direction with respect to the mast 72b, so that the mast 72a of the stacker crane 7A is allowed to escape in the stocker body 2. The area and the area for releasing the mast 72b of the stacker crane 7B are shared. Therefore, the area for escaping the masts 72a and 72b can be minimized.

  Each of the first opening 21 and the second opening 22 is provided with a door D. For this reason, since the atmosphere in the stocker body 2 can be isolated from the outside, the atmosphere in the stocker body 2 can be efficiently maintained in a predetermined state.

  The operation method of the automatic warehouse 100 according to the present embodiment includes a first step of retracting the stacker crane 7A to the retreat area E via the first opening 21, and a standby area of the stacker crane 7B via the second opening 22. A second step of moving the material from W into the stocker main body 2 and a third step of transporting the load H to the stacker crane 7B in the stocker main body 2. For this reason, when the stacker crane 7A breaks down, the transportation of the load H can be continued by the spare stacker crane 7B. Further, the stacker crane 7A can be quickly retracted, and the stacker crane 7B can be quickly moved into the stocker body 2.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of the transfer apparatus of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the automatic warehouse 100 includes a set of stockers 1A and 1B. However, for example, the automatic warehouse 100 may include only one stocker. Further, in the automatic warehouse 100, for example, when three or more stockers are arranged in series, the standby area of one stocker is shared as the standby area of the other stocker in each pair of adjacent stockers. May be. The configuration, number, shape, and the like of each element are not limited to the configuration, number, shape, and the like in the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate.

  1A, 1B ... stocker, 2 ... stocker body, 4 ... loading / unloading port, 5 ... travel path, 7A ... stacker crane (first stacker crane), 7B ... stacker crane (second stacker crane), 21 ... first opening 22 ... 2nd opening, 31 ... Shelf, 71a, 71b ... Traveling unit, 72a, 72b ... Mast, 73a, 73b ... Lifting platform, 100 ... Automatic warehouse, D ... Door, E ... Retreat area, W ... Standby area , H ... load.

Claims (5)

It has a stocker to store the load,
The stocker is
A stocker body having a first opening and a second opening;
A plurality of shelves arranged in the stocker body and storing loads;
A loading / unloading port that is provided in the stocker main body and in which loading and unloading of the load is performed,
A running path provided between the first opening and the second opening in the stocker body;
A first stacker crane that travels on the travel path and transports the load between the shelf and the loading / unloading port;
A second stacker crane that travels on the travel path and transports the load between the shelf and the loading / unloading port;
A retreat area that is connected to the travel path via the first opening outside the stocker body, and in which the first stacker crane can be retreated,
A standby area that is connected to the travel path through the second opening outside the stocker body, and where the second stacker crane waits when the first stacker crane is operating in the stocker body; Have
When the first stacker crane is retreated to the retreat area via the first opening, the second stacker crane moved from the standby area into the stocker body via the second opening is An automated warehouse that transports loads. A set of stockers provided adjacent to each other,
In the set of stockers, the second opening of one of the stockers and the second opening of the other stocker are opposed to each other,
The standby area of the one stocker is shared as the standby area of the other stocker,
The automatic warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the second stacker crane of the one stocker is shared as the second stacker crane of the other stocker. Each of the first stacker crane and the second stacker crane is
A traveling unit that travels along the traveling path;
A mast erected in the traveling section;
The automatic warehouse according to claim 1, further comprising a lifting platform that is disposed on one side in a traveling direction with respect to the mast and moves up and down along the mast.   The automatic warehouse according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a door is provided in each of the first opening and the second opening. An operation method for an automatic warehouse according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A first step of retracting the first stacker crane to the retreat area through the first opening;
A second step of moving the second stacker crane from the standby area into the stocker body through the second opening;
And a third step of transporting the load to the second stacker crane in the stocker body.

Images